Supporting structure for display racks



June 5, 19622l H. J. RUBENSTEIN 3,037,640

bs-She ll i i INVENTOR.

#dr/yl Rabe/75km SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR DSPLAYRACKS Filed .OC' 9, 1959 muli l hv I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Har/3f Rabe/75km United States Patent O 3,037,640 SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR DISPLAY RACKS Harry J. Rubenstein, 816 W. 69th Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Oct. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 845,364 17 Claims. (Cl. 211--86) This invention relates to fixtures for displaying articles of merchandise and has for its primary object to provide arack having novel means connected thereto -for supportmg the rack in an elevated position relative to the base upon which the rack is mounted, and with the latter being rotatable so that the Afront is in any desired position to display the articles to the best advantage.

Marketing studies and statistics have indicated that articles displayed adjacent the check stand of a supermarket or the like sel-l at a much higher rate than the same articles placed elsewhere in the store, this result apparently being attributable to the fact that persons standing in lme waiting to have the products they have selected added up, observe the articles prominently displayed in front of them and `are thereby iniiuenced to purchase the articles. This has been found to be particularly true of articles such as magazines, which the shopper-s would not normally buy if the same were displayed in other areas of the store.

In order to display the magazines or other articles in the most favorable position adjacent the check stand, it is desirable that the articles be at an elevated height and as close to normal eye level as possible, but this presents a display problem inasmuch as the counters upon which the display rack is normally placed are generally at a considerably lower height than approximately eye level. Furthermore, the display rack must be relatively rigidly attached to the counter to prevent the rack lfrom being tipped over or otherwise moved from its initial position, inasmuch as the supporting base for the rack is subjected to consider-able vibration and jolts as customers push their carts through the aisle between adjacent check stands.

Another important consideration is the fact that space on the counter at the checkstand is a-t a minimum and therefore, it is necessary that the display rack occupy a relatively small area of the counter and yet, be positioned to display the articles in the most advantageous manner.

An additional problem arising from the placement of magazine or other article display racks on the counter constituting a part of the check stand, is the fact that in many instances the magazine rack is aligned with the door of the cash register through which tabulating tapes or the like are placed in the register, and it is therefore necessary to move the rack before the aligned tape door can be opened or closed.

lt is, therefore, an additional important object of the invention to provide a display fixture which is adapted to overcome all of the problems and difficulties set forth above and yet may be produced and distributed at a relatively low unit cost. rl`hus, the present display rack is adapted to be mounted on a counter at a check stand or the like by rigidly securing the base of the display fixture to the counter, and with the rack itself being rotatable in a manner to permit movement of the article receiving structure to the most advantageous orientation relative to the path of travel which the customers normally follow, and which also may be moved out of a location blocking opening or closing of the tape door of a cash register or the like.

A particularly important object of 4the invention is to provide a display fixture of the type described which presents a favorable appearance, is of sturdy construction and yet, occupies a minimum of valuable space on the check stand counter or the like. Although of greatest utility ice for displaying articles of merchandise at check stands, it is another important aim of the invention to provide a display fixture which may be utilized with equal advantage in other parts of the store.

Additional important objects and details of construction of the present display fixture will become obvious or be explained in greater detail as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a display fixture embodying the preferred concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a rea-r elevational view of the display fixture With the article supporting rack being rotated and thereby partially shown in side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of a display fixture substantially as shown in FIGS. l and 2, with different base means being provided for securing the fixture to supporting structure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of F-IG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view similar to KFIG. 5 and showing a modified form of the base structure comprising a part of the display fixture; and

FIG. 7 is another cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating a third modified base for the fixture.

The display fixture broadly numerated lit` and shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 5 of the drawings, preferably comprises rack means v12, a base unit 14 adapted to be secured to suitable supporting structure, and elongated connector means |16 joined to rack means 12 and base unit 14 for maintaining the former in spaced relationship to the supporting structure for base unit 14.

In the -form of the invention denominated liti, base unit 14 includes a substantially L-shaped base plate provided with a main, substantially rectangular leg '20* and a plate leg 22 integral with one margin of leg 20- and extending laterally therefrom in one direction. It is especially con- Itemplated that fixture 1t) normally be positioned in upright disposition with leg 20 thereby secured to a horizontal support and plate leg 22 extending upwardly therefrom in substantially perpendicular yrelationship to the supporting structure upon which leg 20 is mounted.

Base unit 14 also includes a rectangular plate 24 having a pair of parallel, spaced, transversely extending grooves 36 adapted to complementally receive the lower extremities of rods 28 serving as connector means 16. The outer, opposed end margins 30 of plate 24 are bent inwardly toward each other to present substantially YU-shaped channels 32 which removably receive corresponding, opposed, upright margins 34 of plate leg 22 of base unit 14. Bolt 36 extending through aligned openings 38 and 40 in plate 24 and plate leg 22 respectively, serves to cause the inner, opposed surfaces of plate 24 and plate leg 22 to clampingly engage adjacent areas of the lower extremities of rods 28 when nut 42 is threaded over the outer end of bolt 36 and into engagement with `the outer face of plate leg 22 away from plate 24. Although the lower extremities of rods 2S are clamped between plate leg 22 and plate 24, the position of nut 42 relative to the outer surface of plate leg 22 is regulated so as to prevent free rotational movement of rods 28 within respective grooves 26, yet allowing limited rotation of respective rods 28.

Rack means l2 may include a rectangular plate 44 having display rack 45 connected to one major face thereof as by welding or the like, while the upper ends of rods 28 are also welded to the outer surface of plate 44 opposed to rack 46. -It should be pointed out that rods 28 are thereby in substantially parallel relationship when the front of rack 46 is in a position extending outwardly in parallelism with the major plane of plate leg 22.

Upon rigid connection of leg 2i) of base unit 14 to a suitable supporting structure, rack 46 may be rotated relative to base unit 14 through an arc of approximately 180 in either direction. It can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that when the front part of rack 46 is facing forwardly, rods 28 lie in substantially a common upright plane, whereas upon rotation of rack 46, rods 28 assume substantially spiral configuration and will be in crossed relationship when the front part of rack 46 is facing rearwardly of its normal position, as indicated in FIG. l. During rotation of rack 46, the lower extremities of rods 28 rotate within respective grooves 26 and because of the clamping engagement of plate leg 22 and plate 24 of base unit 14 with rods 28, rack 46 remains in any position in which the same is placed until manually moved.

The modified display fixture broadly numerated 110 and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes rack means 112 also supported in an elevated position by connector means 116 secured to rack means 112 and to modified base unit 114. It is to be noted that rack means 112 also includes a rectangular plate 144, but differs from rack means 12 in that connecting structure 146 is bolted or otherwise secured to the rearmost face of plate 144.

Connector means 116 comprises a pair of elongated rods 128 and connecting structure 146 serves to releasably secure the upper extremities of rods 128 to plate 144. Transversely U-shaped plate member 148 is disposed with the outer, laterally extending end segments thereof complementally engaging opposite margins of plate 144 while a secondary plate member 150 overlies plate member 148 and is provided with a pair of parallel, transversely extending grooves 152 therein receiving the upper ends of corresponding rods 128. The outer end margins of plate member 151) are spot welded to plate member 148 as at -the areas 154, and bolt and nut means 156 extending through plate members 150 and 148, as well as plate 144, effect clamping engagement of plate members 148 and 159 with rods 128. Plate 144 has a number of spaced openings 157 therein adapted to receive bolt and nut means 156 to thereby permit adjustment of connecting structure 146 relative to plate 144 independently of movement of structure 146 relative to rods 128.

Base unit 114 includes a normally upright, elongated plate element 158 having a series of longitudinally extending and spaced openings 160 therein which are adapted to receive boit and nut means 162 extending through clamp means 164 serving to secure rods 128 to element 158.

Clamp means 164 includes an elongated strip 166, spot welded to the outer face of a transversely U-shaped component 168 having opposed, laterally extending legs 170 complementally embracing opposed, longitudinal margins of element 158. The outer end margins 172 of strip 166 are rebent upon themselves and toward the center part of strip 166 to present opposed U-channels 174 receiving opposed, marginal portions of outer clamp plate 176. As best shown in FIG. 4, clamp plate 176 has a pair of parallel, spaced, transversely extending grooves 178 therein complementally receiving the lower ends of respective rods 128. Bolt and nut means 162, extending through clamp plate 176, strip 166, component 168 and element 158, serve to rigidly secure clamp means 164 to element 158 and thereby to the supporting structure for fixture 110. It is to be understood that an L-shaped base such as 18 may be substituted for plate element 158 if desired or a cast base may be utilized and provided with a pair of tubular bosses or sockets adapted to receive respective ends of rods 128.

The operation of fixture 110 is identical with that of fixture 1) and need not be described in detail, although it is to be recognized that rack means 112 is rotatable in either direction substantially 180.a relative. to element 158. Furthermore, clamp means 164 can be adjusted longitudinally of element 158 to change the elevation of rack means 112.

It should be pointed out at this juncture that an important feature of the display fixtures constituting the subject matter of this invention is the fact that the spacing of rack means 12 or 112 relative to base units 14 or 114 respectively may be changed as desired by virtue of the fact that rods 28 or 128 are shiftable longitudinally of base unit 14 or 114, or connecting structure 146 respectively.

The base unit 214 illustrated in FIG. 6 differs from unit 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that plate leg 222 of L-sliaped base plate 218 is connected to outer clamping plate 224 by spaced spot welds 246 located on opposed sides of the grooved sections 226 of plate 224 receiving the lower ends of rods 228. Bolt and nut means 236 extending through plate 224 between grooves 226 and thereby rods 228, and through plate leg 222 of base 218, forces plate 224 and plate leg 222 into clamping engagement with rods 228.

In the modified base unit 314 shown in FIG. 7, plate leg 322 of L-shaped base plate 318 is secured to outer clamping plate 324 by a spot lweld 346 located between the grooved sections 326 of plate 324. Individual bolt and nut means 336 extending through plate 324 and plate leg 322 on opposed sides of grooves 326 and thereby rods 328, serve to force plate 324 and plate leg 322 into clamping engagement with the lower extremities of rods 328.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a display fixture, an article receiving rack having a front; a base adapted to be secured to supporting structure; elongated means connected at one end to the rack for maintaining the latter in spaced relationship to said base; and securing means coupled with said base for securing the other end of said elongated means to said base, said securing means engaging said elongated means against longitudinal shifting movement relative to said base but permitting said elongated means to turn about its longitudinal axis relative to said base and said securing means and to be longitudinally twistable, whereby When said elongated means are turned relative to said base and said means are longitudinally twisted, said rack is rotated to shift said front of the rack to another position relative to said base.

2. A display fixture as set forth in claim l wherein the turning of said elongated means relative to said base and securing means retains said elongated means in any twisted configuration in which the same is placed until manually retwisted.

3. A display fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means is releasably secured to the base whereby said elongated means are longitudinally shiftable relative thereto.

4. A display fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided for releasably securing said elongated means to said rack whereby said elongated means are longitudinally shiftable relative to said rack.

5. In a display fixture, an article receiving rack; a base adapted to be secured to supporting structure; a pair of elongated, longitudinally twistable rods; and separately spaced means at corresponding extremities of the rods securing the latter to said rack and the base respectively for maintaining the same in spaced relationship, one of said means permitting limited rotation of the proximal extremities of the rods relative thereto whereby the racl; may be rotated with respect to the base and said rods longitudinally twisted as said extremities of the rods rotate relative .to said one means.

6. A display fixture as set forth in claim 5 wherein said rack is rotatable relative to the base through an arc of approximately 180 in either direction.

7. A display fixture as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said separate means includes a pair of plates receiving 'the proximal extremities of said rods therebetween and components forcing said plates into clamping engagement with the rods.

8. A display fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein said components are located between said rods.

9. A display fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein said components are located on opposite sides of said rods.

10. A display fixture as set forth in claim 8 wherein said components include a bolt extending through both of the plates and a nut removably threaded onto one end of said bolt and engaging the outer surface of the adjacent plate.

l1. A display fixture as set forth in claim 9 wherein said components include a pair of bolts extending through both of the plates and a nut threaded onto one end of each bolt and engaging lthe outer surface of the adjacent plate.

12. A display fixture as set forth in claim 10 wherein the plates are interconnected Aby spot welds on opposed sides of said rods.

13. A display fixture as set forth in claim 11 wherein said plates are interconnected by a spot weld inter-mediate said rods.

14. A display fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein one of the plates is provided with a pair of spaced grooves therein complementally receiving respective ends of the rods.

15. A display fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein said `base includes an elongated element having a series of longitudinally spaced openings therein and means rcleasably securing one of the plates to said element and including bolt means removably extending .through one of the openings whereby the plates may be shifted longitudinally of the element.

16. A display fixture as set forth in claim 7 wherein one of the plates is wider than the other platte, the outer margins of said one plate Ibeing rebent upon themselves to present channels removably receiving proximal margins of the other plate.

17. A display fixture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated means includes a pair of elongated rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 211,933 Rogers Feb. 4, 1879 486,981 Gruenhagen Nov. 29, 1892 1,981,294 Wangen Nov. 20, 1934 2,189,538 Van Pelt Feb. 6, 1940 2,255,973 Hoobler Sept. 16, 1941 2,556,124 Ullrich June 5, 1951 2,573,372 Wagler Oct. 30, 1951 2,702,128 Marron Feb. 15, 1955 2,776,757 Schoenlaub Ian. 8, 1957 2,783,010 Ferguson Feb. 26, 1957 

